The production of superoxide anion and nitric oxide by cultured murine leukocytes and the accumulation of TNF-α in the conditioned media is inhibited by taurine chloramine

Taurine chloramine (Tau-C1) inhibits production of nitric oxide (NO) by activated peritoneal macrophages and attenuates accumulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the culture media, similar to that previously reported for activated RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, the effect of Tau-C1 and taurine on superoxide anion (O2−) production in murine peritoneal exudate polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) was examined. Tau-C1 inhibited O2− production in a manner that was dose-dependent and reversible. Taurine also inhibited O2− production by stimulated PMN, but at higher concentrations and to a lesser extent than Tau-Cl. The effects of taurine on O2− production was attributed to the in vitro formation of Tau-Cl catalyzed by PMN associated halide-dependent myeloperoxidase. In contrast, production of NO by activated peritoneal macrophages and accumulation of TNF-α in the media was inhibited by Tau-C1 while taurine was without effect. These data lend support to the notion that Tau-C1 may participate in the inflammatory response by modulating production of inflammatory mediators.